Council moves to separate monument from paving contracts
City councillors debated Monday whether to include an Arctic Winter Games cauldron in a paving contract that would include the development of a park by the Fire Hall.
Councillors moved to vote separately on the installation of the cauldron to ensure paving contracts would not be held up, pending further discussion by council.
“Usually if we're going to do a park we do public consultation to see what members of the public think,” said Coun. Niels Konge.
Coun. Steve Payne said the location may not be suitable.
“In my mind its not a perfect location to have it, it's one of the busiest intersections in the city. I think we should put it somewhere. It would be a special piece to have out,” said Coun. Steve Payne.
The cost for hard surfacing is $80,000 plus $250,000 to landscape the entire area.
“I think that's something that the public should weigh in on,” said Konge.
“If we are looking to do a park, it's time, it's consultation, it's money and I think it should be beautified but not a place for access,” said Coun. Linda Bussey.
Coun. Shauna Morgan asked if there were any considerations of placing the item near the multiplex, where young people are playing sports.
In 2011, consultation outlined a specific location for the cauldron and streetscaping, said Sheila Bassi Kellet, the city's senior administrative officer.
The consultation results determined that there were no other suitable locations for the cauldron, said Grant White, the city's director of community services.
“Because of the magnitude of this cauldron, the base is quite large and quite high, maybe eight to 10 feet. The magnitude of it really dictated where we could and couldn't put it,” said White.
“Certainly we can press the pause button on this part of the project, said Bassi Kellet.
“It is included in the overall cost so if we don't proceed with it then of course the budget will come in less than what is currently planned.”
City approves $7.5-million in paving and sewer contracts
Council approved three contracts for the paving and sewer work to be carried out in 2018.
In 2018, the city will pave Finlayson Drive from Hordal Road to Mandeville Drive, Calder Crescent, Lamoureux Road, Williams Avenue, Grace Lake Boulevard. and Engle Phase 1.
It will also pave Northlands, including Norseman, Anson, and Catalina drives, and Franklin Avenue from Old Old Airport Road to 57 Street.
The city will pave new three-metre multi-use pathways on Franklin Avenue between Old Airport Road and 57 Street. It will widen McMahon Frame Lake Trail by one metre, adding a centre line in 2018.
The city approved a $1.7 million contract for ACE Enterprises Ltd, and $2.7-million paving contract with NWT Construction Ltd.
The city approved a $3.1 million sewer contract with RTL Robinson Enterprises LTD for Dagenais Drive.
Coun. Steve Payne asked for the city to create smaller contracts in the future to open up bids for smaller businesses.
“A smaller company bidding on $2.7 million is pretty tough, but if you break that down into reasonable jobs, maybe it would be easier,” said Payne.
The motion to approve the contracts carried unanimously.
January sewage leaks prompts repairs, proposed ditch
The city will initiate “robust repairs” to a force main after a sewage leak spilled up to two-million litres of waste in the Kam Lake area, said the city's director of public safety on Monday.
Michael Hugall/ NNSL photo
The city is also proposing a drainage ditch, pending council's approval, to insulate Kam Lake from similar runoff in the future, said Dennis Kefalas.
The drainage ditch would allow the city to “intercept” runoff before it enters the lake.
Coun. Shauna Morgan asked how much the clean-up would cost, and how much of the city's insurance would cover costs.
During the clean-up, the city hauled frozen effluent to a sewage lagoon, and will spread lime on other impacted areas. It has also scraped the affected areas clean.
Future work includes flushing the remaining drainage and vacuumed into tanker trucks.
The city does not have a cost estimate for the total clean-up.
City appoints new members of Yellowknife heritage community
The city has appointed three new members to serve a two-year term, effective yesterday, on the Yellowknife Heritage Committee.
Catherine Lafferty and Fred Sangris are appointed members for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
Council also appointed Liliana Canadic as a member of the public at large.